Despite Labor's primary vote slumping to a miserable 29 per cent in WA, the party looked set to retain their three WA legislative seats, with former frontbenchers Gary Gray and Melissa Parke hanging on, and Alannah MacTiernan finally getting to Canberra.

But major damage was still done to WA Labor, with the ousted government poised to lose one of their Senate seats and a greater swing away from Labor in the west than in Queensland.

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According to deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop and WA Premier Colin Barnett, that shows the apparent contempt in which the Labor party is held in Perth and beyond.

"That is the lowest of any state or territory, I don't think Labor would find much joy in the result in WA," said local MP Ms Bishop, Australia's foreign minister-elect.

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"It is an emphatic win in WA, and there are only three Labor seats in WA, which have been reduced to marginal seats. The WA people will be relieved to know there is now a government that will support the state."

Only one federal WA seat looked likely to change hands, with Liberal candidate Rick Wilson holding a slight lead in O'Connor against Nationals hopeful Chub Witham.

And Ms MacTiernan, a former high-profile state Labor minister, said the "Greek tragedy" of the ALP's leadership battle outweighed any policy positives, but a strong Labor voice was still possible.

"I think that we can form a very credible opposition and rebuild for the future," Ms MacTiernan said.

Christian Porter, a former state rival of Ms MacTiernan, was elevated to the federal ranks in Pearce, despite a slight awing away from the Liberals in his seat.

And in time he will hope to join the four WA MPs tipped for ministerial positions - Ms Bishop, Stirling MP Michael Keenan and senators David Johnston and Mathias Cormann.

Disappointment for the Nationals echoed across the state, with the party failing to win Durack, and the bid for a Senate seat on a knife edge - even with former AFL star David Wirrpanda in the ranks.

Despite public goodwill, Wirrpanda failed to generate the popularity he enjoyed as a premiership player for West Coast, with the Nationals' Senate vote in WA languishing behind the Palmer United Party late with counting continuing.

That led to predictions of a shock Senate spot for the Australian Sports Party candidate Wayne Dropulich, with the still active American football player benefiting from preference flows from the other micro-parties.

"We are in with a good shot for a first time party," Mr Dropulich said.

And Labor's decision to put former union stalwart Joe Bullock on top of their senate ticket in WA looks to have cost Senator Louise Pratt her job.